Training

INTRODUCTORY WORKSHOP: FAMILY BASED TREATMENT FOR ADOLESCENTS WITH ANOREXIA NERVOSA

Eating disorders have long been considered to be chronic and intractable mental illnesses that are difficult to treat. However, the introduction of Family-Based Therapy (FBT) or “Maudsley” for anorexia and bulimia nervosa has changed the way we think about the treatment of these disorders. FBT has been found to be effective with children and adolescents, who have been ill for less than three years and are under age 18, with between 50-70% of patients achieving recovery after a year of treatment. FBT works to empower parents to manage their child’s eating disorder through a firm, compassionate focus on renourishment efforts. The treatment emphasizes the importance of parental efforts at renourishment, then the transition of control back to the adolescent. The importance of a return to normal development, both in eating and in the child or adolescent’s daily living, is essential for preventing relapse and rounds out the end of treatment. Endorsed by the NICE guidelines as the first line of treatment for child and adolescent eating disorders.

The workshop is geared towards clinicians, including psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, medical physicians and counselors. This workshop will prepare you to understand the background, theory, and application of FBT. This workshop will utilize an interactive format, including clinical discussion, role plays and lecture.

FAMILY BASED TREATMENT THERAPIST CERTIFICATION

The following steps are required for certification in Family Based Treatment in Anorexia Nervosa:

Complete introductory 1.5 day introductory FBT workshop:

Complete at least 25 hours of advanced individual training and case review with an Institute faculty member, until all expected competencies in the delivery of FBT are achieved. Rate for this training is $225.00 per hour. Advanced training will cover 3 cases across all three treatment phases. DVDs, audio recordings and telephone contact will be utilized. Up to 5 hours of video/audio review will be counted towards certification. Video review will be billed at a rate of $225.00 per hour. The Institute certification process is open to all mental health providers licensed or registered for independent practice. Where licensing does not exist applicants should be working in a recognized child and adolescent mental health area and have completed tertiary level academic study directly related to child and adolescent mental health treatment, have specialist knowledge of eating disorders, and the capacity to work with the other professionals in the patients care network such as pediatricians, psychologists, and psychiatrists. These requirements are predicated on the assumption that the optimal delivery of FBT requires core competencies in the delivery of psychotherapy and in psychiatric crisis assessment and management. However, the Institute welcomes research on task-shifting models of FBT dissemination that would permit broader treatment delivery, particularly in in areas with low mental health resources relative to population needs. The certification process provides advanced, individual-level training and education, as well as de-identified case review with input from expert-level Institute faculty. This process does not involve supervision, i.e., the classic model in which the supervisor assumes responsibility for the cases of a practitioner who is not yet licensed. The certification process is for already-licensed mental health professionals who are responsible for the care and management of their patients. Trainees present de-identified case material only at level of detail necessary to receive advanced education and training in the competent application of FBT. Therapists undergoing certification should refer to their discipline’s ethics codes for specific procedural guidance, e.g., in disclosing the certification process to their FBT patients, and of course, in obtaining informed consent for any videotaping for the purposes of Institute training.

A 1 day advanced workshop will be available to FBT certified therapists for advanced training and quality control. (This is an optional training and not required for certification)

ADVANCED INDIVIDUAL-LEVEL TRAINING

As described above, advanced individual-level training and case review via phone with an institute faculty member is available for clinicians interested in pursuing FBT certification. Expert input and education on treating eating disorders from Institute faculty is also available for those not seeking FBT certification.

For further inquiries or to contact the Training Institute or a member of the faculty please contact Kristen Anderson, LCSW at train2treat4ed@gmail.com.

Process to be trained as a Family Based Treatment Consultant by the Training Institute for Child and Adolescent Eating Disorders

The individual must have completed the 2 step process for Family Based Treatment Certification (Attendance at the 2 day FBT Workshop and 25 hours of consultation in FBT).

To complete training the consultee will satisfy the requirement of discussing approximately 20 hours case material to include (at a minimum) the following clinical presentations: 5 typical cases (adolescents with short duration AN, intact family, no co morbidity, no BP); 2 divorced parent families with restrictive AN; 2 AN/BP with any family configuration; one older adolescents with longer duration AN; one very young patient (11 or 12 years) with AN; one male patient with AN; one transcultural family.

ADVANCED FBT WORKSHOP

An annual one-day workshop provides a forum for discussing challenges to implementation of FBT in various practice settings; in depth review of challenging case material; and an opportunity for a discussion of the latest research in FBT. Open to certified therapists and therapists currently undergoing Institute certification.

PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT

Training regarding incorporating evidence-based treatments for child and adolescent eating disorders in clinical services and program development is available through the Training Institute. Please contact Managing Director Kristen Anderson, LCSW at train2treat4ed@gmail.com for further information.